Screen tops are pretty common these days. If you want a screen top with a feed door (and don't mind paying for a custom lid) check out Artfully Acrylic's Clearview Lids .
While not for everyone (it may cost you a couple hundred bucks), they are very high quality and can be ordered with a removable feed door. If you have any wires or tubes that go over the edge of your tank, the metal screen frames are difficult to work with. Artfully Acrylic can design a top that will fit, no matter what you have around the tank. They built mine to go around two SeaSwirls. The feed door is shown front and center.
![IMG_3631[1].jpg](https://test9.reef2reef.com/attachments/img_3631-1-jpg.497631/ "IMG_3631[1].jpg")
Just letting you know the option exists, since you had never heard of screen tops before. Like I said, not for everyone. The tops are custom made to fit your tank, so that costs money. Also made of polycarbonate so they won't warp from being close to the water.
Just letting you know the option exists, since you had never heard of screen tops before. Like I said, not for everyone. The tops are custom made to fit your tank, so that costs money. Also made of polycarbonate so they won't warp from being close to the water.
Many people use screen tops. I have had glass tops on a 200 gallon tank before and will never go back to that. Inhibits gas exchange at the surface, gets cloudy (either with algae growth or mineral deposits) and prevents evaporation, which is a way of keeping your tank cooler.
This is the screen top on my old tank. It is made in two sections, so it is easy to prop open, or remove entirely if I need to get into the tank. If you have smaller fish - like wrasse size - eggcrate will not work if used alone. I have found small fish that jumped through the eggcrate and then dried up under the lights laying on the top side of the eggcrate. I fastened gutter guard on the under side on the parts where I used eggcrate, to go around return lines that I have coming over the top of the tank.
Anyway, just another idea to consider, if you decide to go to a screen cover.
Just letting you know the option exists, since you had never heard of screen tops before. Like I said, not for everyone. The tops are custom made to fit your tank, so that costs money. Also made of polycarbonate so they won't warp from being close to the water.
Many people use screen tops. I have had glass tops on a 200 gallon tank before and will never go back to that. Inhibits gas exchange at the surface, gets cloudy (either with algae growth or mineral deposits) and prevents evaporation, which is a way of keeping your tank cooler.
This is the screen top on my old tank. It is made in two sections, so it is easy to prop open, or remove entirely if I need to get into the tank. If you have smaller fish - like wrasse size - eggcrate will not work if used alone. I have found small fish that jumped through the eggcrate and then dried up under the lights laying on the top side of the eggcrate. I fastened gutter guard on the under side on the parts where I used eggcrate, to go around return lines that I have coming over the top of the tank.
Anyway, just another idea to consider, if you decide to go to a screen cover.
Just my 2 cents, but with a screen isn't evaporation increased? And what about stuff getting in the tank? Temperature lost? My lights are inches away also,, LEDs, and I don't have salt on my lights. Wiping down any water after I'm done keeps the glass clear, mostly drips. Guys I know that have screens, have MH, or another very hot light which makes the water hot, and they all have Chillers, more money. Keep it simple, KISS
